Measurement support system and measurement support method

ABSTRACT

A measurement support system includes a measurement device and a management device connected to the measurement device via a communications network. When the measurement device uses consumable materials such as reagents, the management device manages the stock of consumable materials, supplies the consumable materials, and corrects measured data in accordance with the state of the consumable materials. Thus, the measurement support system can reduce the burden on users of the measurement device. The reagents that are used in measurement by a personal measuring instrument ( 3 ) located at each of patients&#39; homes (B, C, . . . ) are assigned a reagent ID number beforehand. This reagent ID number and measured data are transmitted to a host computer ( 1 ) of a medical institution (A). The host computer ( 1 ) determines the stock of reagents based on the consumable material identifier received from the personal measuring instrument ( 3 ) and ships the reagents to the patient&#39;s home when the stock is running low. The host computer ( 1 ) also corrects the measured data in view of a calibration curve and degradation based on the production lot information of the reagents stored in correspondence with the reagent ID number.

This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 10/297,190, filedApr. 15, 2003, which is a National Stage application of PCT/JP001/04681,filed Jun. 1, 2001, which applications are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a measurement support system thatincludes a management device connected to a measurement device via acommunications network, the management device managing the supply ofconsumable materials to be used in the measurement device, measured dataof the measurement device, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional personal measuring device is known that allows patientsto measure various data by themselves in places other than medicalinstitutions. For example, people with diabetes, who have to controltheir blood sugar levels daily, use a personal measuring device (a bloodsugar meter) to measure the blood sugar levels four times a day (afteror before meals and at bedtime) and write the results down in theirnotebooks for treatment. They go to a hospital about once a month andpresent the measurement record to a doctor for receiving the doctor'sdiagnosis or directions about the self-administration of blood sugarlevels.

The conventional personal measuring device may use consumable materials,such as disposable reagents, sensors, and test papers. For example, theblood sugar meter electrically measures blood sugar levels by a sensoron which a blood drop obtained from a patient's fingertip or the like isplaced. This sensor is thrown away after use.

When visiting a hospital, users of such a personal measuring device thatrequires reagents, sensors, test papers, or other consumable componentshave to purchase the reagents, etc. in a large amount necessary for thewhole period of time until the next visit to the hospital and carry themhome. Alternatively, those users have to visit medical institutions topurchase the reagents, etc. every time the stock on hand is running low.

Recently, a remote medical examination system also is known that allowspatients to receive a doctor's diagnosis at home. In the remote medicalexamination system, a personal measuring device is connected to a hostcomputer of a medical institution via a communications network such as atelephone network, and measured data from the personal measuring deviceare transmitted to the medical institution via the communicationsnetwork. Even with this system, however, when the personal measuringdevice uses consumable materials such as reagents, the patients have tomanage the stock of consumable materials by themselves and visit themedical institution to purchase the consumable materials.

There may be a variation in ingredient of reagents for each productionlot. Therefore, measured data are corrected generally in accordance withthe calibration curve information of each production lot of the reagents(i.e., a lot correction). Moreover, the ingredients of the reagents maydegrade with time after manufacture of the reagents. This may leads to adifference in result between the measurement performed shortly after themanufacturing date of the reagents and the measurement performed closerto the expiration date of the reagents, even if the reagents have thesame production lot. Thus, the measured data also should be corrected inview of degradation that depends on the period of time betweenmanufacturing of the reagents and performing of the measurement.

A conventional measuring device using a dry-type measuring element isknown as well. This measuring device reads a lot number or the like frombar-code information attached to each measuring element and selects themeasurement conditions and a calibration curve that are suitable for themeasuring element to be used. However, the device configuration iscomplicated, and it is troublesome for patients to carry out correctiveoperations for every measurement.

To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a measurement support system that automatically can perform thestock management, supply, etc. of consumable materials when ameasurement device uses the consumable materials, and correct measureddata properly in accordance with the state of the consumable materials,thereby reducing the burden on users of the measurement device.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A first measurement support system of the present invention includes ameasurement device and a management device connected to the measurementdevice via a communications network. The management device supportsmeasurement performed by the measurement device. The measurement deviceuses consumable materials for measurement, and the consumable materialsare assigned a consumable material identifier beforehand, whichidentifies the consumable materials. The measurement device includes thefollowing: a recognition portion for recognizing the consumable materialidentifier of consumable materials to be used in measurement; ameasurement portion for performing measurement with the consumablematerials; a communication portion for communicating with the managementdevice via the communications network; and a control portion forcontrolling the communication portion to send measurement information tothe management device. The measurement information includes ameasurement device identifier that identifies the measurement device,measured data obtained by the measurement portion after measurement, andthe consumable material identifier recognized by the recognition portionbefore the measurement. The management device includes the following: acommunication portion for communicating with the measurement device viathe communications network; a storage portion for storing as an initialvalue the quantity of consumable materials supplied to a user for eachmeasurement device; a stock determination portion for determining thestock of consumable materials kept by the user for each measurementdevice based on the initial value stored in the storage portion and thenumber of measurements performed by the measurement device after theinitial value has been stored in the storage portion; a supply portionfor taking a procedure for supplying the consumable materials to theuser of the measurement device; and a control portion for controllingthe stock determination portion to determine the stock of consumablematerials of the measurement device based on the measurement deviceidentifier and the consumable material identifier that are extractedfrom the measurement information on each receipt of the measurementinformation from the measurement device and for controlling the supplyportion to take the procedure when the stock is lower than apredetermined level.

According to this configuration, the storage portion stores the quantityof consumable materials supplied to a user of the measurement device asan initial value. The consumable materials used in measurement can bespecified by the consumable material identifier included in themeasurement information that is transmitted from the measurement deviceto the management device. The stock determination portion determines thestock of consumable materials based on the initial value stored in thestorage portion and the number of measurements performed by themeasurement device after the initial value has been stored in thestorage portion. Moreover, when the stock of consumable materials islower than a predetermined level, the supply portion takes a procedurefor supplying the consumable materials to the user of the measurementdevice.

Thus, the management device, instead of users of the measurement device,automatically performs the stock management, procurement, etc. ofconsumable materials, thereby achieving a measurement support systemthat can reduce the burden on the users.

Examples of the consumable materials used in the present inventioninclude reagents, test strips, and sensors for measurement. The sensorsinclude those composed of reagents, electrodes, etc. The recognitionportion of the present invention can be any technical means that allowsthe measurement device to recognize the consumable material identifier.Examples of the recognition portion include a keyboard or touch panel,with which users can enter the consumable material identifier manuallyinto the measurement device, and a bar-code reader that directly readsthe consumable material identifier so as to be recognized by themeasurement device.

In the first measurement support system, it is preferable that themanagement device is located in a medical institution. This makes itpossible to achieve a medical measurement support system.

In the first measurement support system, it is preferable that themanagement device further includes a data transfer portion that isconnected to a data management system of a medical institution via thecommunications network and sends at least the measured data extractedfrom the measurement information to the data management system.

This configuration allows the management device to be owned, e.g., bymanufacturers or suppliers of the measurement device or the consumablematerials. Thus, a medical measurement support system can be achieved,in which the supply of consumable materials to users of the measurementdevice is managed by the manufacturers or suppliers, while the measureddata are managed by the data management system of the medicalinstitution.

A second measurement support system of the present invention includes ameasurement device and a management device connected to the measurementdevice via a communications network. The management device supportsmeasurement performed by the measurement device. The measurement deviceuses consumable materials for measurement, and the consumable materialsare assigned a consumable material identifier beforehand, whichidentifies the consumable materials. The measurement device includes thefollowing: a recognition portion for recognizing the consumable materialidentifier of consumable materials to be used in measurement; ameasurement portion for performing measurement with the consumablematerials; a communication portion for communicating with the managementdevice via the communications network; and a control portion forcontrolling the communication portion to send measurement information tothe management device. The measurement information includes at leastmeasured data obtained by the measurement portion and the consumablematerial identifier recognized by the recognition portion beforemeasurement. The management device includes the following: a consumablematerial information storage portion for storing measured datacorrecting information that corresponds to a production lot of theconsumable materials in correspondence with the consumable materialidentifier; a communication portion for communicating with themeasurement device via the communications network; a data correctionportion for correcting measured data based on the measured datacorrecting information; and a control portion for extracting theconsumable material identifier and the measured data from themeasurement information received from the measurement device, fetchingthe measured data correcting information of the production lot thatcorresponds to the consumable material identifier from the consumablematerial information storage portion, and controlling the datacorrection portion to correct the measured data based on the measureddata correcting information.

According to this configuration, both the measured data of themeasurement device and the consumable material identifier of theconsumable materials used in measurement are transmitted to themanagement device. Thus, the management device can correct the measureddata by the measured data correcting information of the consumablematerials that is specified by the consumable material identifier.Therefore, it is not necessary for users of the measurement device tomake a correction for every measurement, thereby achieving a measurementsupport system that can reduce the burden on the users.

In the second measurement support system, it is preferable that themanagement device is located in a medical institution. This makes itpossible to achieve a medical measurement support system.

In the second measurement support system, it is preferable that themanagement device further includes a data transfer portion that isconnected to a data management system of a medical institution via thecommunications network and sends the measured data corrected by the datacorrection portion to the data management system.

This configuration allows the management device to be owned, e.g., bymanufacturers or suppliers of the measurement device or the consumablematerials. Thus, a medical measurement support system can be achieved,in which the supply of consumable materials to users of the measurementdevice is managed by the manufacturers or suppliers, while the correctedmeasured data are managed by the data management system of the medicalinstitution.

In the second measurement support system, degradation in the consumablematerials with time may affect the measured data, and it is preferablethat the measured data correcting information includes degradationcorrecting information.

This allows the management device to correct data properly, even if themeasurement device uses consumable materials that are degraded withtime. Thus, a measurement support system can be achieved that reducesthe user's burden of making a correction for every measurement.

In the second measurement support system, it is preferable that theconsumable materials are reagents, and the measured data correctinginformation includes calibration curve information.

This allows the management device to correct data properly, even if themeasurement device uses reagents that require a calibration curvecorrection. Thus, a measurement support system can be achieved thatreduces the user's burden of making a correction for every measurement.

A first measurement support method of the present invention is a methodfor supporting measurement performed by a measurement device usingconsumable materials. The measurement device is connected to amanagement device via a communications network. The management devicecollects and manages measured data of the measurement device. The methodincludes the following: setting the quantity of consumable materialssupplied to a user for each measurement device as an initial value ofthe stock of consumable materials kept by the user for each measurementdevice when the consumable materials are supplied to the user; sendingmeasurement information from the measurement device to the managementdevice after each measurement, the measurement information including ameasurement device identifier that identifies the measurement device,measured data derived from the measurement, and a consumable materialidentifier that identifies the consumable materials used in themeasurement; and allowing the management device to update the stock ofconsumable materials kept by the user of the measurement device based onthe measurement device identifier and the consumable material identifierthat are included in the measurement information received from themeasurement device and to take a procedure for supplying the consumablematerials to the user of the measurement device when the stock is lowerthan a predetermined level.

According to this method, when consumable materials are supplied to auser of the measurement device, the quantity is set as an initial valueof the stock of consumable materials kept by the user. The measurementinformation that is transmitted from the measurement device to themanagement device after each measurement includes the measurement deviceidentifier and the consumable material identifier, by which both themeasurement device and the consumable materials used in the measurementare specified, and then the stock of consumable materials of thismeasurement device is updated. Moreover, when the stock is lower than apredetermined level, the management device takes a procedure forsupplying the consumable materials to the user of the measurementdevice.

Thus, the management device, instead of users of the measurement device,automatically performs the stock management, procurement, etc. ofconsumable materials, thereby reducing the burden on the users.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that theprocedure includes sending an inquiry about an order for the consumablematerials from the management device to the measurement device, and theconsumable materials are shipped only when the management devicereceives an order for the consumable materials from the measurementdevice in response to the inquiry.

This makes it possible to ship the consumable materials to users of themeasurement device after confirmation of their intention to order.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that theconsumable material identifier is assigned to each unit of supply of theconsumable materials; the measurement device sends the consumablematerial identifier of the supplied consumable materials to themanagement device before starting measurement with the consumablematerials; and the management device determines an initial value of thestock of consumable materials based on the quantity of consumablematerials per unit of supply that corresponds the consumable materialidentifier received from the measurement device.

This method can assign the consumable material identifier to packages orthe like, each of which includes a plurality of consumable materials.Thus, the supply and the management of consumable materials can beperformed by a unit of the package, i.e., a unit of two or moreconsumable materials.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that when theconsumable materials are manufactured, the consumable materialidentifier is assigned uniquely to each unit of supply of the consumablematerials to a user of the measurement device, and a recording mediumthat contains information about the consumable materials for eachconsumable material identifier is prepared and attached to each unit ofsupply of the consumable materials, the information including thequantity of consumable materials per unit of supply; and the managementdevice reads the information from the recording medium to store thequantity of consumable materials per unit of supply.

According to this method, users of the management device can store theconsumable material information in the management device with a simpleoperation, which only requires the management device to read therecording medium that has been prepared by the manufacturers of theconsumable materials.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that theconsumable material identifier is assigned to each unit of supply of theconsumable materials; the management device stores an expiration date ofthe consumable materials for each consumable material identifier; themeasurement device sends the consumable material identifier ofconsumable materials to be used in measurement to the management devicebefore performing the measurement; the management device retrieves theexpiration date of the consumable materials that correspond to theconsumable material identifier received from the measurement device andsends the expiration date to the measurement device; and the measurementdevice determines for every measurement whether the consumable materialsto be used in the measurement are past the expiration date based on theexpiration date received from the management device.

According to this method, the measurement device automaticallydetermines whether the consumable materials to be used in measurementare past the expiration date based on the expiration date information ofthe consumable materials that is stored in the management device. Thus,it is not necessary for users of the measurement device to manage theexpiration date of the consumable materials, thereby reducing the burdenon the users.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that when theconsumable materials are manufactured, the consumable materialidentifier is assigned uniquely to each unit of supply of the consumablematerials to a user of the measurement device, and a recording mediumthat contains information about the consumable materials for eachconsumable material identifier is prepared and attached to each unit ofsupply of the consumable materials, the information including theexpiration date of the consumable materials; and the management devicereads the information from the recording medium to store the expirationdate.

According to this method, users of the management device can store theconsumable material information in the management device with a simpleoperation, which only requires the management device to read therecording medium that has been prepared by the manufacturers of theconsumable materials.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that when theconsumable materials to be used in measurement are past the expirationdate, the measurement device sends an order for the consumable materialsto the management device.

According to this method, the measurement device automatically ordersconsumable materials when the consumable materials are past theexpiration date, thereby further reducing the user's burden of managingthe consumable materials.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that themanagement device further stores degradation correcting information ofmeasured data derived from measurement that uses the consumablematerials for each consumable material identifier; the measurementdevice allows a user to choose whether to perform measurement or notwhen the consumable materials to be used in the measurement are past theexpiration date; and the management device corrects the measured datathat are included in the measurement information received from themeasurement device by using the degradation correcting information thatcorresponds to the consumable material identifier in the measurementinformation.

This method can provide substantially reliable results of measurement bycorrecting the measured data even if the consumable materials are pastthe expiration date to a certain extent, thereby achieving efficientutilization of the consumable materials.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that themanagement device stores measured data correcting information thatcorresponds to a production lot of the consumable materials incorrespondence with the consumable material identifier, and themanagement device extracts the consumable material identifier and themeasured data from the measurement information received from themeasurement device, and corrects the measured data based on the measureddata correcting information of the production lot that corresponds tothe consumable material identifier.

According to this method, both the measured data of the measurementdevice and the consumable material identifier of the consumablematerials used in measurement are transmitted to the management device.Thus, the management device can correct the measured data by themeasured data correcting information of the consumable materials that isspecified by the consumable material identifier. Therefore, it is notnecessary for users of the measurement device to make a correction forevery measurement, thereby reducing the burden on the users.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that when theconsumable materials are manufactured, the consumable materialidentifier is assigned uniquely to each unit of supply of the consumablematerials to a user of the measurement device, and a recording mediumthat contains information about the consumable materials for eachconsumable material identifier is prepared and attached to each unit ofsupply of the consumable materials, the information including themeasured data correcting information per production lot of theconsumable materials; and the management device reads the informationfrom the recording medium to store the measured data correctinginformation.

According to this method, users of the management device can store theconsumable material information in the management device with a simpleoperation, which only requires the management device to read therecording medium that has been prepared by the manufacturers of theconsumable materials.

In the first measurement support method, degradation in the consumablematerials with time may affect the measured data, and it is preferablethat the measured data correcting information includes degradationcorrecting information.

This allows the management device to correct data properly, even if themeasurement device uses consumable materials that are degraded withtime. Thus, a measurement support system can be achieved that reducesthe user's burden of making a correction for every measurement.

In the first measurement support method, it is preferable that theconsumable materials are reagents, and the measured data correctinginformation includes calibration curve information.

This allows the management device to correct data properly, even if themeasurement device uses reagents that require a calibration curvecorrection, thereby reducing the user's burden of making a correctionfor every measurement.

A second measurement support method of the present invention is a methodfor supporting measurement performed by a measurement device usingconsumable materials. The measurement device is connected to amanagement device via a communications network. The management devicecollects and manages measured data of the measurement device. The methodincludes the following: storing measured data correcting informationthat corresponds to a production lot of consumable materials incorrespondence with a consumable material identifier that identifies theconsumable materials in the management device; sending measurementinformation from the measurement device to the management device aftereach measurement, the measurement information including at leastmeasured data derived from the measurement and the consumable materialidentifier of the consumable materials used in the measurement; andallowing the management device to extract the consumable materialidentifier and the measured data from the measurement informationreceived from the measurement device and to correct the measured databased on the measured data correcting information of the production lotthat corresponds to the consumable material identifier.

According to this method, both the measured data of the measurementdevice and the consumable material identifier of the consumablematerials used in measurement are transmitted to the management device.Thus, the management device can correct the measured data by themeasured data correcting information of the consumable materials that isspecified by the consumable material identifier. Therefore, it is notnecessary for users of the measurement device to make a correction forevery measurement, thereby reducing the burden on the users.

In the second measurement support method, it is preferable that when theconsumable materials are manufactured, the consumable materialidentifier is assigned uniquely to each unit of supply of the consumablematerials to a user of the measurement device, and a recording mediumthat contains information about the consumable materials for eachconsumable material identifier is prepared and attached to each unit ofsupply of the consumable materials, the information including themeasured data correcting information per production lot of theconsumable materials; and the management device reads the informationfrom the recording medium to store the measured data correctinginformation.

According to this method, users of the management device can store theconsumable material information in the management device with a simpleoperation, which only requires the management device to read therecording medium that has been prepared by the manufacturers of theconsumable materials.

In the second measurement support method, degradation in the consumablematerials with time may affect the measured data, and it is preferablethat the measured data correcting information includes degradationcorrecting information.

This allows the management device to correct data properly, even if themeasurement device uses consumable materials that are degraded withtime. Thus, a measurement support system can be achieved that reducesthe user's burden of making a correction for every measurement.

In the second measurement support method, it is preferable that theconsumable materials are reagents, and the measured data correctinginformation includes calibration curve information.

This allows the management device to correct data properly, even if themeasurement device uses reagents that require a calibration curvecorrection, thereby reducing the user's burden of making a correctionfor every measurement.

In the second measurement support method, it is preferable that themeasurement information further includes a measurement device identifierthat identifies the measurement device; and the management deviceextracts the measurement device identifier from the measurementinformation received from the measurement device, and sends correctedmeasured data to the measurement device that corresponds to themeasurement device identifier.

This method allows users of the measurement device to confirm theproperly corrected measured data.

A third measurement support method of the present invention is a methodfor supporting measurement performed by a measurement device usingconsumable materials. The measurement device is connected to amanagement device via a communications network. The management devicecollects and manages measured data of the measurement device. The methodincludes the following: storing an expiration date of consumablematerials in correspondence with a consumable material identifier thatidentifies the consumable materials in the management device; sendingthe consumable material identifier of consumable materials to be used inmeasurement from the measurement device to the management device beforestarting the measurement; allowing the management device to retrieve theexpiration date of the consumable materials that corresponds to theconsumable material identifier received from the measurement device andto send the expiration date to the measurement device; and allowing themeasurement device to determine for every measurement whether theconsumable materials to be used in the measurement are past theexpiration date based on the expiration date received from themanagement device.

According to this method, the measurement device automaticallydetermines whether the consumable materials to be used in measurementare past the expiration date based on the expiration date information ofthe consumable materials that is stored in the management device. Thus,it is not necessary for users of the measurement device to manage theexpiration date of the consumable materials, thereby reducing the burdenon the users.

In the third measurement support method, it is preferable that when theconsumable materials are manufactured, the consumable materialidentifier is assigned uniquely to each unit of supply of the consumablematerials to a user of the measurement device, and a recording mediumthat contains information about the consumable materials for eachconsumable material identifier is prepared and attached to each unit ofsupply of the consumable materials, the information including theexpiration date of the consumable materials; and the management devicereads the information from the recording medium to store the expirationdate.

According to this method, users of the management device can store theconsumable material information in the management device with a simpleoperation, which only requires the management device to read therecording medium that has been prepared by the manufacturers of theconsumable materials.

In the third measurement support method, it is preferable that when theconsumable materials to be used in measurement are past the expirationdate, the measurement device sends an order for the consumable materialsto the management device.

According to this method, the measurement device automatically ordersconsumable materials when the consumable materials are past theexpiration date, thereby further reducing the user's burden of managingthe consumable materials.

In the third measurement support method, it is preferable that themanagement device further stores degradation correcting information ofmeasured data derived from measurement that uses the consumablematerials for each consumable material identifier; the measurementdevice allows a user to choose whether to perform measurement or notwhen the consumable materials to be used in the measurement are past theexpiration date; and the management device corrects the measured datathat are included in the measurement information received from themeasurement device by using the degradation correcting information thatcorresponds to the consumable material identifier in the measurementinformation.

This method can provide substantially reliable results of measurement bycorrecting the measured data even if the consumable materials are pastthe expiration date to a certain extent, thereby achieving efficientutilization of the consumable materials.

A first management device of the present invention is a device forsupporting measurement performed by a measurement device usingconsumable materials. The management device is connected to themeasurement device via a communications network. The consumablematerials are assigned a consumable material identifier beforehand,which identifies the consumable materials. The measurement device sendsmeasurement information to the management device after each measurement.The measurement information includes a measurement device identifierthat identifies the measurement device, measured data derived from themeasurement, and the consumable material identifier of the consumablematerials used in the measurement. The management device includes thefollowing: a communication portion for communicating with themeasurement device via the communications network; a storage portion forstoring as an initial value the quantity of consumable materialssupplied to a user for each measurement device; a stock determinationportion for determining the stock of consumable materials kept by theuser for each measurement device based on the initial value stored inthe storage portion and a number of measurements performed by themeasurement device after the initial value has been stored in thestorage portion; a supply portion for taking a procedure for supplyingthe consumable materials to the user of the measurement device; and acontrol portion for controlling the stock determination portion todetermine the stock of consumable materials of the measurement devicebased on the measurement device identifier and the consumable materialidentifier that are extracted from the measurement information on eachreceipt of the measurement information from the measurement device andfor controlling the supply portion to take the procedure when the stockis lower than a predetermined level.

According to this configuration, the storage portion stores the quantityof consumable materials supplied to a user of the measurement device asan initial value. The consumable materials used in measurement can bespecified by the consumable material identifier included in themeasurement information that is transmitted from the measurement deviceto the management device after each measurement. The stock determinationportion determines the stock of consumable materials based on theinitial value stored in the storage portion and the number ofmeasurements performed by the measurement device after the initial valuehas been stored in the storage portion. Moreover, when the stock ofconsumable materials is lower than a predetermined level, the supplyportion takes a procedure for supplying the consumable materials to theuser of the measurement device.

Thus, the management device, instead of users of the measurement device,automatically performs the stock management, procurement, etc. ofconsumable materials, thereby reducing the burden on the users.

A second management device of the present invention is a device forsupporting measurement performed by a measurement device usingconsumable materials. The management device is connected to themeasurement device via a communications network. The consumablematerials are assigned a consumable material identifier beforehand,which identifies the consumable materials. The measurement device sendsmeasurement information to the management device after each measurement.The measurement information includes at least measured data derived fromthe measurement and the consumable material identifier of the consumablematerials used in the measurement. The management device includes thefollowing: a communication portion for communicating with themeasurement device via the communications network; a consumable materialinformation storage portion for storing measured data correctinginformation that corresponds to a production lot of the consumablematerials in correspondence with the consumable material identifier; adata correction portion for correcting measured data based on themeasured data correcting information; and a control portion forextracting the consumable material identifier and the measured data fromthe measurement information received from the measurement device,fetching the measured data correcting information of the production lotthat corresponds to the consumable material identifier from theconsumable material information storage portion, and controlling thedata correction portion to correct the measured data based on themeasured data correcting information.

According to this configuration, both the measured data of themeasurement device and the consumable material identifier of theconsumable materials used in measurement are transmitted to themanagement device. Thus, the management device can correct the measureddata by the measured data correcting information of the consumablematerials that is specified by the consumable material identifier.Therefore, it is not necessary for users of the measurement device tomake a correction for every measurement, thereby achieving a managementdevice that can reduce the burden on the users.

A first program recording medium of the present invention includes aprogram for controlling operations of a management device. Themanagement device supports measurement performed by a measurement deviceusing consumable materials and is connected to the measurement devicevia a communications network. The program executes the followingprocesses: receiving measurement information from the measurementdevice, the measurement information including at least a measurementdevice identifier that identifies the measurement device and aconsumable material identifier that identifies the consumable materialsused in measurement; extracting the measurement device identifier andthe consumable material identifier from the measurement information;referring to a storage table that stores as an initial value thequantity of consumable materials supplied to a user for each measurementdevice and fetching the initial value of the measurement device thatcorresponds to the measurement device identifier extracted; determininga stock of the consumable materials based on the initial value and thenumber of measurements performed by the measurement device after theinitial value has been stored in the storage table; and taking aprocedure for supplying the consumable materials to the user of themeasurement device when the stock is lower than a predetermined level.

According to this program recording medium, a management device of thepresent invention can be achieved by running the recorded program in aCPU or the like.

A second program recording medium of the present invention includes aprogram for controlling operations of a management device. Themanagement device supports measurement performed by a measurement deviceusing consumable materials and is connected to the measurement devicevia a communications network. The program executes the followingprocesses: receiving measurement information from the measurementdevice, the measurement information including at least measured data anda consumable material identifier that identifies the consumablematerials used in measurement; extracting the consumable materialidentifier and the measured data from the measurement information;referring to a consumable material information storage table that storesmeasured data correcting information that corresponds to a productionlot of the consumable materials in correspondence with the consumablematerial identifier and fetching the measured data correctinginformation of the production lot that corresponds to the consumablematerial identifier extracted; and correcting the measured data based onthe measured data correcting information.

According to this program recording medium, a management device of thepresent invention can be achieved by running the recorded program in aCPU or the like. Examples of the first or second program recordingmedium include any recording medium that can be read by a computer, suchas a ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, and a CD-ROM.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measurementsupport system of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a personalmeasurement instrument that is included in the measurement supportsystem.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communicationdevice that is included in the measurement support system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a host computerof a medical institution that is included in the measurement supportsystem.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing operations of the personal measurementinstrument and the communication device.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing operations of the host computer.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measurementsupport system of another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measurementsupport system of this embodiment. In the measurement support system, asshown in FIG. 1, a host computer 1 (a management device) located in amedical institution A is connected to patients' homes B, C, . . . viapublic networks 10 such as a telephone network and the Internet. Thehost computer 1 also is connected to any other computer terminals 6, astorage device 7, etc. by a LAN 5 in the medical institution.

In each of the patients' homes B, C, . . . , a personal measuringinstrument 3 (a measurement portion) for the patient is connected to acommunication device 2 (a communication portion) by a communicationcable 8, thus forming a measurement device. The communication device 2is connected to the medical institution A via the public networks 10 andcommunicates with the host computer 1 via a modem 4.

The following is an explanation of the personal measuring instrument 3.FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the personalmeasuring instrument 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the personal measuringinstrument 3 includes a measurement portion 31, a converter 32, a memory33, a device information storage portion 34, a controller 35, acommunication portion 36, and a display portion 37.

The measurement portion 31 performs data measurement under the controlof the controller 35 with a sensor that is adapted to the applicationsof the personal measuring instrument 3. For example, when the personalmeasuring instrument 3 is a blood sugar meter, a sensor electrically oroptically measures blood sugar levels using a test paper on which ablood drop obtained from a patient's finger is placed. This sensor isthrown away after use, so that one sensor is used for each measurement.

The converter 32 performs IV or AD conversion of the informationtransmitted from the measurement portion 31 under the control of thecontroller 35 to determine the concentration of a substance to bemeasured and stores the resultant value in the memory 33 as measureddata.

The device information storage portion 34 stores a device ID number (ameasurement device identifier) that is assigned uniquely to eachpersonal measuring instrument 3 and a patient ID number that recognizesthe individual patient having the personal measuring instrument 3. Thecontroller 35 controls the operations in each portion of the personalmeasuring instrument 3. The communication portion 36, which is connectedto the communication device 2 by the cable 8, sends the measured data orthe like to the communication device 2 under the control of thecontroller 35. The display portion 37 includes a liquid crystal displayfor showing messages, etc.

The following is an explanation of the communication device 2. As shownin FIG. 1, the communication device 2 includes a liquid crystal display2 a and a keypad 2 b for entering figures, characters, etc. FIG. 3 is ablock diagram showing the configuration of the communication device 2.As shown in FIG. 3, the communication device 2 includes a communicationportion 21, a memory 22, a telephone device 23, a controller 24, adisplay portion 25, a clock 26, a key entry portion 27, and a reagentinformation storage portion 28.

The communication portion 21 is connected to the communication portion36 of the personal measuring instrument 3 to receive the measured dataor the like. The memory 22 stores the measured data or the like receivedby the communication portion 21. The telephone device 23 is connected tothe public networks 10 and communicates with the host computer 1 via thepublic networks 10.

The controller 24 controls the operations in each portion of thecommunication device 2. The display portion 25 controls the liquidcrystal display 2 a to show various kinds of messages, etc. The keyentry portion 27 (a recognition portion) receives input data including areagent ID number (a consumable material identifier) that are fedmanually by the patient through the keypad 2 b. The reagent informationstorage portion 28 stores the reagent ID number and the expiration dateof this reagent, which will be described in the following. A detailedexplanation of the reagent ID number will be given later.

As the communication device 2, programmable cellular phones or PHS(Personal Handyphone System) can be used. In this embodiment, thecommunication device 2 and the personal measuring instrument 3 areseparated from each other and connected by the cable 8, thus forming themeasurement device. However, the communication device 2 and the personalmeasuring instrument 3 may be formed into an integral component. Thedevice information storage portion 34 in FIG. 2 may be provided in thecommunication device 2, and the key entry portion 27 or the reagentinformation storage portion 28 in FIG. 3 may be provided in the personalmeasuring instrument 3.

The following is an explanation of the host computer 1 of the medicalinstitution A. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functionalconfiguration of the host computer 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the hostcomputer 1 includes a controller 11, a patient data storage portion 12,a data processor 13, a reagent information storage portion 14, acommunication controller 15, a clock 16, a magnetic card reader 17, areagent stock determination portion 18, and a reagent shipping portion19.

The controller 11 controls the operations in each portion of the hostcomputer 1. The communication controller 15 communicates with thecommunication device 2 located in each of the patients' homes via themodem 4. The data processor 13 performs an operation to correct themeasured data transmitted from the individual patient based oncalibration curve information and degradation correcting information.

The patient data storage portion 12 stores various data including apatient ID number assigned to each patient, the measured data (e.g., theblood sugar levels of the patient) that has been corrected by the dataprocessor 13, i.e., the corrected measured data, and patient personalinformation such as last name, first name, and address.

The reagent information storage portion 14 stores information aboutreagents supplied to the individual patient (hereinafter, referred to asreagent information). The reagent information is offered by the reagentmanufacturers and includes a reagent ID number, a lot number, anexpiration date, calibration curve information, degradation correctinginformation, and a quantity of reagents per unit of supply. In thisembodiment, the reagents for the personal measuring instrument 3 aresupplied to each patient by a package of several tens of reagents as aunit. Thus, the reagent information storage portion 14 stores thequantity of reagents per package.

When the reagents for personal measuring instrument 3 are manufactured,the manufacturers assign a unique number to each unit of supply (i.e., apackage in this embodiment) of reagents as the reagent ID number.Specifically, the reagent ID number is printed, e.g., on a label, andthis label is attached to a package for shipping.

The reagent manufacturers prepare a magnetic card on which the lotnumber of reagents and the quantity of reagents per unit of supply arerecorded in correspondence with each reagent ID number. This magneticcard is attached to the package for shipping. The magnetic card furthercontains the expiration date, the calibration curve information, and thedegradation correcting information of the lot of reagents incorrespondence with each lot number. In the medical institution A, theinformation of delivered reagents can be stored easily in the reagentinformation storage portion 14 of the host computer 1 by reading themagnetic card attached to the delivered reagents with the card reader 17of the host computer 1.

A medium for recording the reagent information is not limited to themagnetic card and can be, e.g., IC cards and any other recording mediaor bar codes. In such a case, the magnetic card reader 17 may bereplaced by an information reader depending on the medium used.

The reagent stock determination portion 18 and the reagent shippingportion 19, which will be described in detail later, serve to manage thestock of reagents supplied to each of the patients' homes B, C, . . .and to ship additional reagents from the medical institution A to thepatient's home in the case of reduced stocks.

The operations of the measurement support system will be described indetail by referring to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing theoperations of the measurement device of this embodiment that includesthe personal measuring instrument 3 and the communication device 2. FIG.6 is a flow chart showing the operations of the host computer 1.

As described above, the reagents used in the personal measurementinstrument 3 for measurement have the reagent ID number per package.Before using a newly purchased package of reagents, the patient shouldenter the reagent ID number attached to this package.

The following is an explanation of an input process of the reagent IDnumber. The entry of the reagent ID number is required only at one timeafter purchasing new reagents and before using the reagents formeasurement. Once the reagent ID number is entered, it is not necessaryto repeat this input process as long as the reagents of the same package(i.e., having the same reagent ID number) are used.

As described above, the reagent ID number is assigned to each unit ofsupply of reagents to the patient. For example, sensors used in a bloodsugar meter are available in cases, and one case includes several tensof sensors. Each case has a unique reagent ID number that is printed onthe label at the time of manufacture. Therefore, the patient whopurchased the sensors can type the reagent ID number by referring to thelabel attached to the case.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a patient purchases new reagents and has notentered the reagent ID number yet (the answer of S1 is “NO”), thepatient should enter the reagent ID number with the keypad 2 b. Then,the key entry portion 27 receives this entry and temporally stores thereagent ID number in the memory 22 (S2).

When the communication device 2 receives the reagent ID number, thetelephone device 23 establishes a connection with the host computer 1via the public networks 10 under the control of the controller 24, sothat the reagent ID number is transmitted to the host computer 1 (S3).

As shown in FIG. 6, when the host computer 1 detects transmission fromthe communication device 2, it decides an operation according to thetransmitted information and performs the operation under the control ofthe controller 11 (S22). In this case, the reagent ID number is sentfrom the communication device 2. Therefore, the controller 11 proceedsto perform S23, where an expiration date of the reagents is retrievedfrom the reagent information storage portion 14 by using the reagent IDnumber as a retrieval key. Next, the controller 11 obtains the currentdate and time from the clock 16 (S24).

Subsequently, the communication controller 15 sends the expiration dateof the reagents and the current date and time, which are provided in S23and S24, to the communication device 2 via the modem 4 and the publicnetworks 10 (S25).

The controller 11 stores as an initial value the quantity of reagentspurchased by the patient (the quantity of purchased reagents) in thepatient data storage portion 12, and clears the number of measurementsstored in the patient data storage portion 12 to be “zero” (S26). Thequantity of purchased reagents can be determined by the quantity ofreagents per package stored in the reagent information storage portion14. Specifically, when the patient purchases a package of 25 reagents,the reagent information storage portion 14 stores “25,” so that theinitial value to be stored in the patient data storage portion 12 is“25.”

After completion of S26, the controller 11 returns the operations to S21and waits for transmission from the communication device 2.

On the other hand, the communication device 2 receives the expirationdate of the reagents and the current date and time from the hostcomputer 1 (S4 in FIG. 5). The expiration date is brought intocorrespondence with the reagent ID number entered in S2, which then arestored in the reagent information storage portion 28 (S5). Moreover, theclock 26 is adjusted according to the current date and time (S6). Whenthese operations are finished, the telephone device 23 disconnects thehost computer 1.

In this manner, the input process of the reagent ID number of purchasedreagents is completed. Then, the patient can make measurement with thepersonal measuring instrument 3. The following is an explanation of themeasurement operations of this system after the input process.

As described above, since the reagent ID number of purchased reagentshas been entered (the answer of S1 is “YES”), the patient turns on thepower of the personal measuring instrument 3 (S7). The on state of thepersonal measuring instrument 3 is transmitted from the communicationportion 36 of the personal measuring instrument 3 to the communicationportion 21 of the communication device 2 via the cable 8.

When the controller 24 of the communication device 2 detects the onstate of the personal measuring instrument 3, it obtains the currentdate and time from the clock 26, compares them with the expiration dateof the reagents stored in the reagent information storage portion 28,and examines whether the reagents are valid (S8).

If the reagents are not past the expiration date (the answer of S8 is“YES”), then the controller 24 proceeds to perform S10. However, if thereagents are past the expiration date (the answer of S8 is “NO”), thedisplay portion 25 displays a warning message that “The reagents are outof date” on the liquid crystal display 2 a of the communication device2, followed by a confirmation message that “Are you going to continuemeasurement?” Thus, the patient can choose between continuing orstopping the measurement (S9).

After reading the message on the liquid crystal display 2 a, the patientuses the keypad 2 b to enter the information about continuation orinterruption of the measurement. When the patient chooses to continuethe measurement (the answer of S9 is “YES”), the controller 24 proceedsto perform S10. When the patient chooses to stop the measurement (theanswer of S9 is “NO”), the controller 24 proceeds to perform S15. Theprocess in S15 will be described later.

The reason measurement is not necessarily stopped even with out-of-datereagents in S8 and S9 is that substantially reliable results can beobtained by correcting the measured data in view of degradation when thereagents are not so much past their expiration date. The correction ofmeasured data for degradation will be described later.

Before performing S10, the patient prepares for measurement as needed.For example, when the personal measuring instrument 3 is a blood sugarmeter, the patient takes a sensor out of the case and sets the sensor inthe personal measuring instrument 3. Then, the patient sticks his/herfingertip with a needle, squeezes the finger to obtain a very smallamount of blood, and places it on the sensor in the personal measuringinstrument 3.

When all necessary preparations are made, the measurement portion 31 ofthe personal measuring instrument 3 starts measurement (S10). In thecase of the blood sugar meter, e.g., the measurement portion 31automatically recognizes the dropping of blood on the sensor and obtainsmeasured values that are output from the sensor after a predeterminedtime has passed since the dropping of blood.

When the measurement is finished, the results are sent to the hostcomputer 1 in the medical institution A (S11). The following procedureis used in transmitting the results of measurement.

The controller 35 of the personal measuring instrument 3 sends themeasured values thus obtained, together with the device ID number andthe patient ID number stored in the device information storage portion34, to the communication device 2 via the communication portion 36 andthe cable 8. Upon recognizing the transmission of the measured values,etc., the communication device 2 obtains the date and time at this pointfrom the dock 26 as representing measurement date and time. Themeasurement date and time are added to the information from the personalmeasuring instrument 3 including the measured values, the device IDnumber, and the patient ID number, and then are stored in the memory 22.

Next, the communication device 2 sends the results of measurement to thehost computer 1 in the medical institution A by the following procedure.First, the telephone device 23 of the communication device 2 establishesa connection with the host computer 1 via the public networks 10 and themodem 4. Then, the communication device 2 transmits the device ID numberand the patient ID number from the memory 22 to the host computer 1.After checking the device ID number and the patient ID number, the hostcomputer 1 sends a data transmission request to the communication device2.

When the communication device 2 receives the data transmission requestfrom the host computer 1, the measured values and the measurement dateand time are fetched from the memory 22, then combined with the reagentID number stored in the reagent information storage portion 28, and sentto the host computer 1 as the results of measurement. In other words,the results of measurement transmitted from the communication device 2to the host computer 1 include the measured values, the measurement dateand time, and the reagent ID number.

With the above procedure, the results of measurement of each patient aretransmitted from the personal measuring instrument 3 to the hostcomputer 1 of the medical institution A.

When the host computer 1 detects that the results of measurement havebeen sent from the communication device 2, the controller 11 proceeds toperform S27, as shown in FIG. 6. In S27, a lot number of the reagent isretrieved from the reagent information storage portion 14 by using thereagent ID number as a retrieval key. Based on the lot number and themeasurement date and time, calibration curve information and degradationcorrecting information of this lot also are retrieved from the reagentinformation storage portion 14 (S27).

The data processor 13 performs an operation to correct the measuredvalues by using the calibration curve information and the degradationcorrecting information that have been provided in S27 (S28). Thecontroller 11 stores the corrected measured data into the patient datastorage portion 12 (S29).

Next, the reagent stock determination portion 18 performs the followingoperations under the control of the controller 11: updating the numberof measurements stored in the patient data storage portion 12 by addingone to the number; comparing the updated number with the quantity ofpurchased reagents stored in the patient data storage portion 12 toyield a difference therebetween; and determining whether the patient hassufficient reagent stocks on hand based on a comparison of thedifference and a predetermined value, e.g., ten (S30).

When the stock of reagents is sufficient (the answer of S30 is “YES”),the controller 11 sends only the corrected measured data in S28 to thecommunication device 2 via the communication controller 15 (S31). Whenthe stock of reagents is not sufficient (the answer of S30 is “NO”), thecontroller 11 sends a reagent-order inquiry for the patient that isissued from the reagent shipping portion 19 as well as the correctedmeasured data to the communication device 2 (S32).

When the communication device 2 receives the corrected measured datathat have been provided in S31 or S32 from the host computer 1 (S12 inFIG. 5), the display portion 25 displays the corrected measured data onthe liquid crystal display 2 a under the control of the controller 24(S13).

If there is a reagent-order inquiry from the host computer 1 (the answerof S14 is “YES”), the display portion 25 displays a message that “Thereagent stocks are running low. Are you going to order?” on the liquidcrystal display 2 a. Thus, the patient can choose whether to orderadditional reagents or not (S15).

When the patient has other reagents in reserve, he/she may choose not toorder. For purchasing reagents, the patient can use the keypad 2 b toenter the type, quantity, etc. of the reagents to be ordered in responseto the message.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, even if the reagents are past the expirationdate and the patient choose to stop the measurement (both answers of S8and S9 are “NO”), S15 is performed. In this case, the display portion 25displays a message that “The reagents are out of date. Are you going toorder new reagents?” on the liquid crystal display 2 a, instead of theabove message. Thus, the patient can choose whether to order additionalreagents or not.

When the patient has other reagents in reserve, he/she may choose not toorder. For purchasing reagents, the patient can use the keypad 2 b toenter the type, quantity, etc. of the reagents to be ordered in responseto the message.

When the patient orders reagents with keypad 2 b (the answer of S15 is“YES”), the key entry portion 27 receives this order-entry. Then, arequest for shipping the reagents including the order of the patient istransmitted to the host computer 1 via the telephone device 23 (S16).

Thereafter, the controller 24 allows the display portion 25 to display amessage that indicates the end of measurement on the liquid crystaldisplay 2 a (S17). When the power of the personal measuring instrument 3is turned off (S18), all the processes are completed.

When the host computer 1 detects that the request for shipping reagentshas been sent from the communication device 2, the controller 11proceeds to perform S33, as shown in FIG. 6. In S33, the procedure forshipping reagents is performed by the reagent shipping portion 19.

The procedure for shipping reagents includes the following. The reagentshipping portion 19 fetches the personal information of a patient towhom the reagents are to be shipped, such as name and address, from thepatient data storage portion 12, sends this information and the type andquantity of the reagents to the computer terminal 6 of a pharmacy in themedical institution A via the LAN 5, and delivers the reagents that areprescribed in the pharmacy to the patient home, e.g., by mail or homedelivery service.

According to the above processes, the host computer 1 of the medicalinstitution A manages the stocks of reagents supplied to a patient usingthe personal measuring instrument 3 and delivers additional reagents inthe case of reduced stocks. Therefore, it is neither necessary forpatients to carry out stock management nor to visit the medicalinstitutions to purchase reagents, thus reducing the burden on thepatients.

Moreover, the host computer 1 can correct the measured data properly inview of the calibration curve and the degradation based on theproduction lot information of the reagents. This eliminates the need forcorrections that have been made at every measurement by patients, whichalso can reduce the burden on the patients.

Embodiment 2

The following is an explanation of another embodiment of a measurementsupport system of the present invention.

In the measurement support system of Embodiment 1, theordering/delivering of reagents and the sending/receiving of measureddata can be achieved only between the medical institution A and thepatients' homes B, C, . . . . In a measurement support system of thisembodiment, however, any agencies other than medical institutions cansupply reagents to patients or collect the measured data of each patientto be transmitted to a medical institution.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of this measurement support system. InFIG. 7, an intermediary D and a reagent supplier E have host computers41, 43 that are connected to public networks 10 via modems 42, 44,respectively. The intermediary D can be inspection institutions or thelike.

In this system, a communication device 2 located in each of thepatients' homes B, C, . . . is not connected to a medical institution A,but the intermediary D to send measured data, etc. The host computer 41of the intermediary D functions as the host computer 1 in Embodiment 1,has the same configuration as that in FIG. 4, and performs the sameprocess as that in the flow chart in FIG. 6.

When the results of measurement by the personal measuring instrument 3of a patient are sent from the communication device 2, the host computer41 corrects the measured data as described in Embodiment 1 and sends thecorrected measured data to a host computer 40 of the medical institutionA via the public networks 10. When a patient sends a request forshipping reagents because of a decrease in reagent stock, the hostcomputer 41 transfers the order of the patient to the reagent supplierE. Then, the reagent supplier E delivers the ordered reagents to thepatient's home. Therefore, the medical institution A manages only thecorrected measured data under the host computer 40 and is notresponsible for reagent stock management or shipping procedure.

The present invention is not limited to each of the above embodiments,and various modifications of the invention may be made without departingfrom the scope thereof. For instance, though a blood sugar meter isreferred to as an example of the personal measuring instrument 3, anyother measuring instruments can be used as long as they requireconsumable materials, such as reagents and test papers. Moreover, theapplication filed of the present invention is not limited to medicalservice. Further, the management device is not limited to a hostcomputer and can be a server, a personal computer, or the like.

The keypad, with which a user manually enters a consumable materialidentifier, is used as a recognition portion for allowing themeasurement device to recognize the consumable material identifier.Instead of the keypad, e.g., a bar-code reader or the like may beprovided in the measurement device to read the consumable materialidentifier before measurement.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the management device of the present invention,which is connected to the measurement device via communicationsnetworks, performs the following operations: managing the stocks ofconsumable materials used in the measurement device; supplying theconsumable materials; and correcting measured data in accordance withthe state of the consumable materials. Thus, the present inventionprovides a measurement support system that can reduce the burden onusers of the measurement device.

1. A measurement support system comprising: a measurement device; and amanagement device connected to the measurement device via acommunications network, the management device supporting measurementperformed by the measurement device, wherein the measurement device usesconsumable materials for measurement, and the consumable materials areassigned a consumable material identifier beforehand, which identifiesthe consumable materials, wherein the measurement device comprises: arecognition portion for recognizing the consumable material identifierof consumable materials to be used in measurement; a measurement portionfor performing measurement with the consumable materials; acommunication portion for communicating with the management device viathe communications network; and a control portion for controlling thecommunication portion to send measurement information to the managementdevice, the measurement information including at least measured dataobtained by the measurement portion and the consumable materialidentifier recognized by the recognition portion before measurement, andwherein the management device comprises: a consumable materialinformation storage portion for storing measured data correctinginformation that corresponds to a production lot of the consumablematerials in correspondence with the consumable material identifier; acommunication portion for communicating with the measurement device viathe communications network; a data correction portion for correctingmeasured data based on the measured data correcting information; and acontrol portion for extracting the consumable material identifier andthe measured data from the measurement information received from themeasurement device, fetching the measured data correcting information ofthe production lot that corresponds to the consumable materialidentifier from the consumable material information storage portion, andcontrolling the data correction portion to correct the measured databased on the measured data correcting information.
 2. The measurementsupport system according to claim 1, wherein the management device islocated in a medical institution.
 3. The measurement support systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the management device further comprises adata transfer portion that is connected to a data management system of amedical institution via the communications network and sends themeasured data corrected by the data correction portion to the datamanagement system.
 4. The measurement support system according claim 1,wherein degradation in the consumable materials with time affects themeasured data, and the measured data correcting information includesdegradation correcting information.
 5. The measurement support systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the consumable materials are reagents, andthe measured data correcting information includes calibration curveinformation.
 6. A measurement support method for supporting measurementperformed by a measurement device using consumable materials, themeasurement device being connected to a management device via acommunications network, and the management device collecting andmanaging measured data of the measurement device, the method comprising:storing measured data correcting information that corresponds to aproduction lot of consumable materials in correspondence with aconsumable material identifier that identifies the consumable materialsin the management device; sending measurement information from themeasurement device to the management device after each measurement, themeasurement information including at least measured data derived fromthe measurement and the consumable material identifier of the consumablematerials used in the measurement; and allowing the management device toextract the consumable material identifier and the measured data fromthe measurement information received from the measurement device and tocorrect the measured data based on the measured data correctinginformation of the production lot that corresponds to the consumablematerial identifier.
 7. The measurement support method according toclaim 6, wherein when the consumable materials are manufactured, theconsumable material identifier is assigned uniquely to each unit ofsupply of the consumable materials to a user of the measurement device,and a recording medium that contains information about the consumablematerials for each consumable material identifier is prepared andattached to each unit of supply of the consumable materials, theinformation including the measured data correcting information perproduction lot of the consumable materials, and the management devicereads the information from the recording medium to store the measureddata correcting information.
 8. The measurement support method accordingto claim 6, wherein degradation in the consumable materials with timeaffects the measured data, and the measured data correcting informationincludes degradation correcting information.
 9. The measurement supportmethod according to claim 6, wherein the consumable materials arereagents, and the measured data correcting information includescalibration curve information.
 10. The measurement support methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the measurement information furtherincludes a measurement device identifier that identifies the measurementdevice, and the management device extracts the measurement deviceidentifier from the measurement information received from themeasurement device, and sends corrected measured data to the measurementdevice that corresponds to the measurement device identifier.
 11. Amanagement device for supporting measurement performed by a measurementdevice using consumable materials, the management device being connectedto the measurement device via a communications network, wherein theconsumable materials are assigned a consumable material identifierbeforehand, which identifies the consumable materials, and themeasurement device sends measurement information to the managementdevice after each measurement, the measurement information including atleast measured data derived from the measurement and the consumablematerial identifier of the consumable materials used in the measurement,and wherein the management device comprises: a communication portion forcommunicating with the measurement device via the communicationsnetwork; a consumable material information storage portion for storingmeasured data correcting information that corresponds to a productionlot of the consumable materials in correspondence with the consumablematerial identifier; a data correction portion for correcting measureddata based on the measured data correcting information; and a controlportion for extracting the consumable material identifier and themeasured data from the measurement information received from themeasurement device, fetching the measured data correcting information ofthe production lot that corresponds to the consumable materialidentifier from the consumable material information storage portion, andcontrolling the data correction portion to correct the measured databased on the measured data correcting information.
 12. A measurementdevice for performing measurement with consumable materials, themeasurement device being connected to a management device for supportingmeasurement via a communications network, and the consumable materialshaving a consumable material identifier beforehand, wherein themeasurement device comprises: a recognition portion for recognizing theconsumable material identifier of consumable materials to be used inmeasurement; a measurement portion for performing measurement with theconsumable materials; a communication portion for communicating with themanagement device via the communications network; and a control portionfor controlling the communication portion to send measurementinformation to the management device, the measurement informationincluding at least measured data obtained by the measurement portion andthe consumable material identifier recognized by the recognition portionbefore measurement, and wherein the management device extracts theconsumable material identifier and the measured data from themeasurement information received from the measurement device, andcorrects the measured data based on measured data correcting informationof a production lot that corresponds to the consumable materialidentifier.
 13. A program recording medium comprising: a program forcontrolling operations of a management device, the management devicesupporting measurement performed by a measurement device usingconsumable materials and being connected to the measurement device via acommunications network, wherein the program executes processes of:receiving measurement information from the measurement device, themeasurement information including at least measured data and aconsumable material identifier that identifies the consumable materialsused in measurement; extracting the consumable material identifier andthe measured data from the measurement information; referring to aconsumable material information storage table that stores measured datacorrecting information that corresponds to a production lot of theconsumable materials in correspondence with the consumable materialidentifier and fetching the measured data correcting information of theproduction lot that corresponds to the consumable material identifierextracted; and correcting the measured data based on the measured datacorrecting information.